Chapter 380: Noble Ball

Chiyan Imperial Capital, the noble core district.

At night, the core district where the nobles lived resembled a dazzling yet understated pearl. Its hazy glow seemed to sever it from the outside world.

Mansions of varying styles were elegantly scattered across the area. Spires reached high into the clouds, while exquisite doors, windows, and intricate cornices all proudly displayed the ancient glory of their respective families.

Security in this area was strict. Enforcers in fine uniforms patrolled the streets on schedule, their steps synchronized and their gazes sharp as they meticulously protected the safety of the noble lords.

Every now and then, a few elegant nobles passed by on the street. They were heading either to a royal banquet or a social gathering. Their graceful demeanor and aloof bearing perfectly complemented the district.

Here, every inch of the air was thick with the scent of wealth and power.

"Big Brother, a total of a thousand bottles of Transcendent Potion were distributed from above. Isn't it a bit too much... for us to secretly hold back half?"

Inside the Gongyang estate, Gongyang Shi spoke with deep concern.

His older brother, Gongyang Yu, sighed in exasperation. "Blockhead. Let me ask you, who are those Transcendent Potions meant for?"

"The military department."

"And where do I hold office?"

"The military department."

"Exactly! Doesn't that mean they were issued to me?"

"But... I'm worried the higher-ups..."

"What the hell are you worried about? The world is in chaos right now. Her Majesty has no time to keep an eye on internal affairs; she can't even handle the coastal cities. Besides, I didn't pocket these five hundred bottles for myself. I distributed them to the Gongyang family's personal guards. It's completely legal and compliant!

"Her Majesty's intention was to issue the Transcendent Potions to the soldiers, and I followed orders. What problem could there be?"

"But you haven't sent these guards to the battlefield either, Big Brother. This..."

Gongyang Yu sighed. "Second Brother, if I send everyone to the battlefield, who will protect the Gongyang family's massive estate? The family comes before the country. As the head of the Gongyang family, how can I protect the Chiyan Empire if I don't protect my own family first?

"I know what you're worried about, but don't let the news fool you. It's just a Nightmare Invasion. It's not like this hasn't happened before. During the era of the first King, wasn't a Nightmare Invasion resolved?"

Gongyang Shi hesitated. "But this time the scale is massive, and there's Pride, who seems to be a God, taking action..."

Gongyang Yu waved him off. "You were at the last court meeting. Didn't Her Majesty say that Pride simply cannot enter the Present World? Furthermore, even if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. The Seven Kings are still around, so is it your turn to worry?

"Hurry up and let's go, the ball is about to start. Let me tell you, the ball organized by Lord Situ this time is anything but ordinary. Come on, put on your mask."

"A mask? Why wear a mask?"

"Heh... You wouldn't understand. It's a masquerade ball this time. Quite a few celebrities, noble ladies, and madams are attending. Once the masks are on, no one knows who is who, so everyone can really let loose."

Gongyang Shi looked at the hollow-patterned mask in his hand. If worn, it would only cover his eyes.

"Can this really hide who we are?"

After the two left, a dark figure quietly followed them.

Lin Canyang trailed the Gongyang brothers to a hidden manor. The entrance was heavily guarded, with no fewer than ten Silver enforcers stationed there.

Seeing this, a cold look surfaced on Lin Canyang's face.

Hmph! What nobles! When the Leader had assigned the mission earlier, he hadn't fully believed it. With an apocalyptic crisis looming, how could the nobles be so short-sighted? Seeing it today, his eyes were opened.

Lining their own pockets, indulging in extravagant debauchery, holding masquerade balls...

The apocalyptic crisis hadn't affected the nobles' lives in the slightest. No, it actually had.

It had given them a sense of crisis, prompting them to frantically hoard wealth and amass family power while the empire was in chaos, all to increase their own sense of security.

Only at this moment did he realize just how vast the difference between people's mindsets could be.

The thoughts of a normal person were probably nothing more than a joke in the eyes of a noble.

For today's ball, there were over a dozen Silver transcendent guards alone. This didn't even account for the personal bodyguards brought by each noble, or the nobles themselves.

These Imperial Capital nobles were different from those in remote areas. Almost all of them were transcendents, and there were even a few Gold experts among them. Yet now, they were all gathered together to attend a masquerade ball.

If all the transcendents gathered at this ball went to the frontlines, they would be more than a match for a fully armed army.

Lin Canyang rubbed the Bronze Ring on his hand, thinking to himself that with this Gold Artifact bestowed by the Leader, slipping into the ball unnoticed wouldn't be a problem.

When the time came, he would contact the Leader and unleash a few Nightmare Creatures. He wanted to see how these nobles would enjoy themselves then!

In the dim banquet hall, a massive crystal chandelier cast a radiant glow like starlight, illuminating every guest.

It was the only source of light in the ball. As the chandelier slowly spun, beams of different colors cast shifting patches of light and shadow across the hall.

Slightly provocative music drifted slowly through the air, carrying a sweet, cloying fragrance.

Men and women wearing revealing clothes and masks danced wildly on the dance floor, like a horde of demons.

Here, men and women paired up freely. Beneath those simple masks could be someone else's noble wife or a celebrity usually under the spotlight. Anything was possible.

Lin Canyang stepped into the hall silently. No one questioned the arrival of this uninvited guest, and some, seeing his tall stature, even invited him to dance.

It was a woman in a short skirt made of silver sequins. She wore a black lace mask over her face, and her heavily powdered features looked slightly saggy. A small roll of flab was squeezed over the top of her tight skirt, resembling a spare tire.

She rested a hand on Lin Canyang's arm. "Your mask is so strange. Why does it have a '1' on it? Does it hold some special meaning?"

Lin Canyang's gaze fell on the woman's face through his cold Silver-White Mask. "You will find out very soon."

The woman chuckled. "You've successfully piqued my interest. Come, dance with me."

Lin Canyang didn't refuse, lest anyone notice something amiss. He had no choice but to wrap his arm around this somewhat plump, middle-aged noblewoman and sway in the middle of the dance floor.

He controlled his consciousness. Following the method taught by the Leader, his consciousness slowly ascended until it entered another dimension.

On a train bound for the coastal cities, Su Mu was sitting in a carriage, drinking coffee.

Beside him sat Lin Nanxing and the others, while the other carriages held the Nightmare Apostles traveling to the coastal cities with them.

Su Mu gently set down his coffee cup and wiped a bit of foam from the corner of his mouth with a crisp white napkin. Immediately after, his consciousness ascended into the dream realm.

Above the endless White Mist.

The consciousness projections of Pride and Lin Canyang suddenly materialized.

"Leader, your subordinate has already infiltrated the noble ball and now requests support," Lin Canyang said respectfully, bowing his head.

Through Lin Canyang's perspective, Su Mu saw the extravagant, chaotic scene at the ball. He smiled faintly. "Granted."